Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

These range from simple reminders to designing lessons and assignments to encourage students to grapple with how science is connected to societal and political issues. Examine current events in science and science policy Many STEM students see science as non-political, or even were drawn to a STEM discipline because of an apolitical identity.

Politics 189

Politics Technology Technology 2018 189

Arnold Porter

NOVEMBER 12, 2021

The bipartisan Infrastructure Bill has passed the Senate and is heading to the President’s desk for signature. But the $1.75+ trillion Build Back Better bill, the “social infrastructure” economic plan, still may have a rough road to consensus.

Politics 52

Politics Technology Technology 2021 52

Nanotech

APRIL 25, 2024

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 19, 2024, that it issued an emergency fuel waiver for E15 sales. EPA notes that current estimates indicate that “on average, E15 is about $0.25 EPA notes that current estimates indicate that “on average, E15 is about $0.25 a gallon cheaper than E10.”

Fossil Fuels 59

Fossil Fuels Environmental Protection 2024 Biofuels 59

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 4, 2023

Yet there was one issue where they did agree: climate change. It’s not surprising that Bernie Sanders said, rather emphatically, that he was not a friend of Kissinger’s. Kissinger spoke at length about climate change in a 2009 speech.

Climate Change 261

Climate Change Nuclear Power Carbon Dioxide 2009 261

Legal Planet

APRIL 2, 2024

The European Court of Human Rights will decide on three contentious cases brought by individual applicants, and the other three courts will issue advisory opinions at the request of different States. But all cases overlap to some degree on the question of the international legal obligations of States in light of the climate emergency.

Paris Agreement 227

Paris Agreement Climate Change Law Greenhouse 227

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

Yet it can seem daunting to stay up to date on every current issue important in our democracy, especially when it comes to the ever-changing landscape of scientific information. Each webinar consisted of a conversation between an academic researcher and an activist whose work focused on similar issues.

2024 184

2024 Politics Air Pollution Government 184

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 16, 2024

Much of our electricity system is 50 to 70 years old, yet current plans for domestic manufacturing, electric vehicle fleets, community solar gardens and more clean energy all depend on a modern grid. First, the demand The ability of the current US power grid to handle growth in electricity demand is in doubt.

Electricity 210

Electricity Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 210

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 29, 2024

This update, current with launches through May 1, 2023, collects 28 pieces of data on 7,560 actively-operating satellites. The very real issues around space security have only grown more important as space has taken a more central role in the global economy and in global security. More than 90% of U.S. commercial satellite fleet.

2005 191

2005 2007 2008 2021 191

Legal Planet

JULY 31, 2023

The proposal is a clear improvement over both earlier versions: 1978 rules issued by the Carter Administration, and 2020 rules issued by the Trump Administration. The current proposal pursues streamlining with minimal impact on environmental protection and environmental justice. The current proposal rejects that philosophy.

Climate Change 242

Climate Change Sea Level Clean Energy Regulations 242

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 4, 2024

In fact, shareholder resolutions can be an early-warning system to help corporations address issues of investor and public concern before they snowball into major problems. As chair of our ESPP Committee, I’m proud to work on key issues related to climate risk at ExxonMobil. What did Dr. Avery accomplish?

Climate Scientist 261

Climate Scientist Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Energy 261

Legal Planet

APRIL 18, 2024

The article helped popularize the issue and the Bureau of Land Management today announced a final rule that, as the BLM press release describes, “recognizes conservation as an essential component of public lands management, on equal footing with other multiple uses of these lands.”

Conservation 264

Conservation Natural Resources Law Politics 264

Law and Environment

APRIL 12, 2023

According to EnergyWire (subscription required), the notice to proceed was issued a mere 18 years after the project was first initiated. Transmission should be an apple pie issue. This would seem to be a “can’t we all just get along” kind of issue. Most of the electrons will ultimately provide power to California.

2028 130

2028 Electricity Law Renewable Energy 130

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

In this case, the new regulation replaces a Trump regulation attempted to discourage consideration of climate risks and similar issues without actually prohibiting it. They’re not likely to find out much more about the issue before voting. The specific regulation becomes void but what about the future?

Regulations 246

Regulations Politics Law Climate Change 246

Legal Planet

APRIL 25, 2024

EPA , has little in common with EPA’s current regulatory effort. And any claim that EPA has gotten the facts wrong is a perfectly routine administrative law issue, not an extraordinary major legal question. energy mix. I’ve previously explained why the Supreme Court case in question, West Virginia v.

Clean Air Act 163

Clean Air Act Carbon Emissions Pollution Control Regulations 163

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

It won’t win, but I couldn’t help noticing this from the report of the city’s press conference on the issue : “Let the free market dictate what the demand is per city,” [Councilmember Casey] McKeon said. And current right-wing “thought” has about as much intellectual vibrancy as Maoism. That’s how they avoid belonging to it.”

Politics 361

Politics Government Regulations Conservation 361

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Wealthy countries are relying on over 2 billion tons of carbon on removal — 18% of current emissions. A February 2 article shows that such issues are not limited to forest restoration. A article in November spotlighted how much some countries are counting on carbon removal in their climate strategies. a truly international team.

Biofuels 236

Biofuels Climate Change Law 236

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 17, 2023

Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) released a draft set of recommendations calling on the EPA to tighten its current standard for ground-level ozone pollution to protect public health. But will the EPA follow CASAC’s recommendations?

Ozone 187

Ozone Ground-Level Ozone Air Pollution Clean Air Act 187

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

And for good reason: extreme heat events cause a host of reliability issues for the grid. CAISO and ERCOT are two of the few agencies that issue customer-facing, RTO-level alerts related to extreme heat events, in addition to notification procedures they use with their operators.

Electricity 221

Electricity Cooling Conservation Climate Change 221

Real Climate

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

If you’re not familiar with the issues surrounding the risk of abrupt ocean circulation changes, I briefly summarized ten key facts on this topic last year in this blog post. Schematic of the AMOC, with warm water flowing north, sinking in northern latitudes and then returning as a cold deep current to the south.

Ocean 364

Ocean Atmosphere 2005 2025 364

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 18, 2022

One of those weaknesses that the agency is currently tackling is that the current version of the rule does not require RMP facilities to adopt safer chemicals or practices–there are even cases where alternative versions are more affordable. The EPA is currently working on developing and proposing a new RMP rule.

Climate Change 227

Climate Change Regulations Government Environmental Protection 227

Legal Planet

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

The Asian Development Bank has a detailed guide to Indonesia’s energy issues. Most of the barriers that ABD identifies relate to institutional issues or deeply embedded policies. Several official plans. rely on unrealistic data input assumptions, and provide conflicting and unachievable targets.”

Paris Agreement 287

Paris Agreement Sea Level Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions 287

Law and Environment

DECEMBER 20, 2023

As we’ve previously noted , DOE has statutory authority to designate NIETCs in transmission-constrained or congested geographic areas, within which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) may issue permits for construction or modification of electric transmission facilities. Submissions can be made by emailing NIETC@hq.doe.gov.

Electricity 130

Electricity 2024 2023 Law 130

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

has made over the past half-century in abating water pollution; focus on some of the law’s most contentious, current features; and predict how the Act will likely–and should–evolve in the decades to come. The second keynote address will feature current U.S.E.P.A. The event will assess the progress the U.S.

Clean Water Act 130

Clean Water Act Law Pollution Control Regulations 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 5, 2024

In this current age, a meme on Facebook, a video on TikTok, or a comment thread on Reddit can have substantial influence over people’s views and perspectives. But these tactics are not simply issues of the past, tobacco companies continue to peddle their mistruths to this day.

2001 274

2001 2012 Government Climate Change 274

Law and Environment

NOVEMBER 12, 2021

This issue has significant resonance in the current moment, when we are facing a climate crisis that requires what is basically a complete reboot of a significant portion of our economy. People forget that markets work. There are many who argue that we simply cannot afford the cost to reach a zero carbon economy.

Regulations 244

Regulations Politics Law Climate Change 244

Legal Planet

JULY 24, 2023

The underlying theory is that Congress probably would want to decide rather than delegate “an issue of vast economic and political significance” to the executive branch. Congress’s current approach seems best described as “all of the above.” The current attack on Chevron is similar. electricity system.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Conservation Politics 246

Legal Planet

JUNE 9, 2022

These questions are central to climate policy and some other important environmental issues. I’ll use cost-benefit analysis as a framework for discussing these issues. You probably don’t need my help in thinking about the ethical issues, so instead I’ll focus on legal and economic considerations. Other countries.

Climate Change 264

Climate Change Clean Air Act Regulations Government 264

Legal Planet

AUGUST 16, 2021

The environment hasn’t been a signature issue for incumbent, Gavin Newsom, but he has strongly supported climate action. Here are the candidates who currently seem to have the greatest chances and their views on environmental issues: John Cox. Now let’s take a look at who might replace him. I think there are some benefits to it.”

Climate Change 246

Climate Change 2014 Renewable Energy 2015 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

On Wednesday last week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy released draft legislation that would raise the debt limit, but also make a variety of other sweeping changes to current law. 1 would amend provisions of current law that regulate permitting of certain proposed energy-related projects. Late last month, the House passed H.R.

Fossil Fuels 233

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Clean Energy Law 233

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

A recent National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) study shows that it would take less than 1 percent of the land in the Lower 48—that’s an area comparable to or even smaller than the fossil fuel industry’s current footprint. times current levels by 2035. See more on these issues in these recent UCS blogs ).

Electricity 346

Electricity Fossil Fuels Solar Power 2030 346

Legal Planet

APRIL 24, 2023

The SWRCB’s current approach to curtailment is its most advanced and effective yet, but has important limitations. The SWRCB is currently using watershed-based emergency regulations under Water Code section 1058.5 As a result, the SWRCB issued curtailment orders months after they were warranted.

2018 346

2018 Regulations 2021 2020 346

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

The current “peak load” framework. In many ways, the CPUC’s current resource adequacy system is similar to the systems used by grid operators in many other parts of the country. However, the current resource adequacy framework doesn’t include any explicit requirements that ensure energy storage can fully charge before it’s needed.

Electricity 207

Electricity Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Regulations 207

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Indeed, California currently faces a 21st century water supply crisis; relies on a 20th century water infrastructure system; and is burdened by a 19th century water rights legal regime. The working group issued a report in February 2022 identifying 11 specific proposals to revise and improve state water law.

Law 315

Law Conservation Politics 2023 315

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 11, 2024

But a study published in the December 2022 issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health calculated that gas stoves are responsible for 12.7 I was not fully aware of this issue until roughly a year ago, when I wrote a column about it, and I’ve been working for environmental organizations for 25 years.

2013 353

2013 Electricity Natural Gas Fossil Fuels 353

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

But it falls short on providing rules and processes for the use of AI in science and democracy—both critical and pressing issues, especially considering that generative AI technologies will likely be used to spread disinformation in the upcoming 2024 election cycle. Here’s my initial sense of where significant work remains to be done.

Technology 271

Technology Technology Government 2024 271

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 25, 2023

These bills are simple reforms that do not represent a paradigm shift, but rather provide the state with common sense tools and oversight authority to ensure the current water rights system works. Due to restrictions in the current law, it can take weeks, or longer, for the Board to stop unauthorized water use.

Law 343

Law 2022 Climate Change 2015 343

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 12, 2023

As a result, the public will continue to be unnecessarily exposed to ozone levels that may be hazardous to their health for at least a few more years, an outcome especially harmful to communities currently overburdened by air pollution.

Ozone 256

Ozone Ground-Level Ozone Air Pollution 2024 256